A daunting but refreshing part of any campervan trip is the need to travel lightly. And whilst the time saved from spending hours going through piles of clothes is satisfying, it’s always nice to have a choice. 

You may find yourself wondering ‘will there be enough space for this extra jumper?’ or ‘How am I going to fit a family of 4’s holiday-drobe in that?’ Wonder no more! Here is an essential clothes packing list for weekends away and long term escapes, as well as storage options and tips to fit more in. 

Essential clothes packing list 

Figures below are based on one adult.

2-3 nights 

Jumper x 1

Raincoat x 1

T shirt x 2

Dressy item (dress or shirt if you plan on heading out for dinner) x 1 

Pair of trousers/jeans/shorts x 1 (weather dependant)

Leggings or other activewear x 1

Swimsuit x 1

Loungewear x 1 (something to keep you warm on chilly days/nights)

Underwear & socks for everyday

Wellies or sandals (depending on the time of year)

Hiking boots x 1

Casual shoes x 1

7 days

Jumper x 1

Raincoat x 1

T shirt x 3

Dressy item (dress or shirt if you plan on heading out for dinner) x 1 

Pair of trousers/jeans/shorts x 2 (weather dependant)

Leggings or other activewear x 2

Swimsuit x 1

Loungewear x 2 (something to keep you warm on chilly days/nights)

Underwear & socks for everyday

Wellies or sandals (depending on the time of year)

Hiking boots x 1

Casual shoes x 1

1 month+

There are plenty of places to wash your laundry on the go. We’d suggest sticking to a maximum of 10 days worth of clothing for long trips to avoid cupboards becoming too crammed.

Jumper x 2

Raincoat x 1

T shirt x 4

Dressy item (dress or shirt if you plan on heading out for dinner) x 1

Pair of trousers/jeans/shorts x 2

Leggings or other activewear x 3

Swimsuit x 1

Loungewear x 2 (something to keep you warm on chilly days/nights)

Underwear & socks for 10 days

Wellies or sandals (depending on the time of year)

Hiking boots x 1

Casual shoes x 1

Children

It’s always a good idea to bring a few extra bits of clothing for your little ones, especially if they’re spending most of their time outdoors. Figures below are based on one child on a 7 day trip.

Jumper x 2

Raincoat x 1

T shirt x 7

Dress x 2 

Pair of trousers/jeans x 3

Legging x 3

Swimsuit x 1

PJS x 1

Onesie x 1 (Be warned, they may just wear this the entire time)

Pants & socks for everyday plus a few extra pairs

Wellies and sandals (No matter the time of year, they will find a puddle to jump in)

Hiking boots x 1

Trainers x 1

Storage options 

There are multiple ways to store your clothes in a campervan. Which option you choose often depends on the size of your van and what type of layout you have chosen. 

Wardrobe

Those with larger vehicles such as Sprinters or Vavarios may go for this option. With most vanlifers not having enough power or space to iron – hanging your clothes is one of the only ways to avoid creases. 

Overhead cabinets

Willow’s impressive cabinetry

For those who don’t want to or can’t compromise on floor space, overhead cabinets could be the perfect solution. You can build them in places that don’t directly impact the areas where you need headroom, like above the bed or over the cab. 

Drawers

Not sure what to do with the room underneath your seats? Drawers are fantastic at utilising that space. They’re easily accessible and you can organise your clothes like you would at home. Organisers for inside drawers are also a great idea to stop them getting too cluttered.

Boxes and baskets

Boxes and baskets are a versatile and uncluttered way of storing things. They come in many shapes and sizes including collapsible ones, so when not in use, you can easily store them away. They’re also a brilliant way of organising your wardrobe, you could have socks and underwear in one box and t-shirts in another. 

Netting

Mesh nets are a cost effective and clever way of housing lots of items, including clothing. You can place them on the wall for easy access or hide them in cupboards for privacy. Or you could install a giant net on the roof. You’ll be surprised at how much you can fit in them! 

Space saving hacks 

Roll them

Take a page from Marie Kondo’s book by rolling all your clothes neatly before putting them away. Not only does it save space and allow you to pack a bit more, it’s said to be a therapeutic way of putting away clothes.

Double hang them

A concept many wardrobe users will be familiar with is hanging multiple items on one hanger, allowing you to store double the amount. Remember to check the weight allowance – the last thing anything wants is a collapsing pole. 

Tuck them

If you come to realise there is not enough space for your clothes but feel you cannot part with them; look around and tuck them away where you can, whether that’s in a backpack, in a bag underneath your passenger seats or tucking socks in your walking boots. 

Stuff them

Forget about buying stuffing for your cushions, instead you can fill your cushions with spare clothes. Not only is your clothing neatly tidied away, your cushions have extra plump – it’s a win-win situation! 

Hook them

Hooks are an easy way to utilise every inch of space in your van. Hang your coats, hats and bulky items to avoid clogging up your cupboards. Plus if you don’t have room for a wardrobe, this is another way to avoid creases. 

Ways to wash your clothes

Laundrette 

Laundrettes are a godsend for full-time vanlifers. In winter, hanging your clothes outside to dry isn’t an option, so this is a sufficient solution. Revolution laundry has started to install laundry facilities at some service stations. Find your closest one here. 

Laundry bag 

An eco-friendly way to wash your clothes on the go. Often with built in scrub boards, they claim to give you washing machine results in minutes. And the best thing is they are super compact, so will take up minimal space in the van. 

Hand washing 

This is a great option for those just wanting to freshen up their clothing or wash their delicates. Fill up your sink or bucket with warm water and a healthy dose of washing detergent and scrub.  

For more ideas and storage solutions, take a look at our collection of bespoke handcrafted campers.